Ind vs Aus: The three run-outs that bundled out India

Sydney, Jan 9: With stand-in captain, Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara came onto the crease after both the opening batsmen gave a stable start for Team India, it looked like they take a big lead in the third Test at Sydney. However, the middle order and along with that, three hasty run-outs cost India a lot in the end as they bundled out for 244.

 

Australia has now taken a lead of 94 runs over the visitors. The second session saw six wickets falling for 64 runs. Cheteshwar Pujara and Shubman Gill scored half-centuries for India, while Pat Cummins scalped four wickets. After India bundled out for 244, the Australian opening batsmen could not give a good start but Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith put up a score for 103/2.

 

 

Labuschagne batting on 47 and Smith batting on 29. With the odd-ball keeping low, the lead of 197 runs with eight wickets in the bag looks more than handy as the Aussies look to go for the kill. Having said that, India's innings witnessed Pujara’s slowest Test half-century, a painstaking 50 off 176 balls. It was soon followed by India being bowled out for 244 on the third day with the other batsmen feeling tremendous pressure of a dormant scoreboard.

 

 

Besides, this is the first time in 12 years that three Indian cricketers got run-out in a Test inning. The last time, it took place in 2008 in the 2nd innings of the Mohali Test against England. Overall this is the seventh such incident where three run-outs took place in the case of India but they did not win any of those 6 games in the past.

 

The middle-order could not create momentum due to which the wickets kept falling frequently. In the case of the run-outs, Hazlewood claimed the wicket of Hanuma Vihari with an unbelievable reflex throw to get a direct hit. The second run-out came when Cummins was quick enough to collect the ball and then threw it at the keeper’s end where Labuschagne grabbed the ball and took off the bails before Ashwin could get there. From 195/5, India was suddenly down to 206/7 at this stage. Again here, Jadeja made a wrong judgment when he called for a two, and Bumrah had to pay the price.

 

 

Now, a first-innings lead of 94 runs provided by the bowlers and some good fielding did help Australia’s cause. By stumps, Steve Smith (29 batting) and Marnus Labuschagne (47 batting) gave an Australia edge in reaching 103/2.

To make matters worse for India, two batsmen — Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja — were hit on the left elbow and left thumb respectively.